The Director’s Cut - A DGA Podcast

The Invisible Man with Leigh Whannell and David F. Sandberg (Ep. 256)

Director Leigh Whannell discusses his new film, The Invisible Man, with fellow director David F. Sandberg. A modern update to the classic sci-fi-thriller, the film tells the story of Cecilia, who begins to suspect that the suicide of her abusive ex - a wealthy and brilliant scientist - was a hoax. As a series of eerie coincidences begin to threaten the lives of those she loves, Cecilia must convince others that she is being hunted by someone nobody can see.

Emma with Autumn de Wilde and Mike Mills (Ep. 255)

Director Autumn de Wilde discusses her new film, Emma, with fellow director Mike Mills. Adapted from the Jane Austen novel, the film tells the story of Emma Woodhouse, a well-meaning but selfish young woman who meddles in the love lives of her friends while venturing through her won romantic missteps in a small town in 1800s England.

Fantasy Island with Jeff Wadlow and Christopher Landon (Ep. 254)

Director Jeff Wadlow discusses his new film, Fantasy Island, with fellow director Christopher Landon. Set on the mythical tropical resort where dreams can come true, the film shifts into nightmare territory as the guests of the enigmatic Mr. Roarke must solve the island's mystery in order to escape with their lives.

Downhill with Nat Faxon & Jim Rash and Jenna Ricker (Ep. 253)

Director Nat Faxon & Jim Rash discusses their new film, Downhill, with fellow director Jenna Ricker. Inspired by Ruben Östlund's 2014 feature Force Majeure, Downhill follows a married couple who are forced to reevaluate their relationship after barely escaping an avalanche during a family ski vacation in the Alps.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/Events/2020/April2020/Downhill_QnA_0220.aspx

Premature with Rashaad Ernesto Green and Dawn Wilkinson (Ep. 252)

Director Rashaad Ernesto Green discusses his new film, Premature, with fellow director Dawn Wilkinson. Set in a hot summer in Harlem, Green's film tells the story of 17-year-old poet Ayanna who is drawn into a relationship with Isaiah, a young music producer who moves to the city just as Ayanna is about to leave for college.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/Events/2020/April2020/Premature_QnA_0220.aspx

Meet the Nominees Theatrical Feature Film Symposium 2020 - Part 3 of 3 (Ep. 251)

Sam Mendes, Bong Joon Ho, Martin Scorsese, Quentin Tarantino, and Taika Waititi engage in a conversation with Jeremy Kagan for the 29th Annual DGA Meet the Nominees: Theatrical Feature Film Symposium on their nominated films. Part three shares the nominees' thoughts on working with actors and the lessons they learned on their movie.

Meet the Nominees Theatrical Feature Film Symposium 2020 - Part 2 of 3 (Ep. 250)

Sam Mendes, Bong Joon Ho, Martin Scorsese, Quentin Tarantino, and Taika Waititi engage in a conversation moderated by Jeremy Kagan for the 29th Annual DGA Meet the Nominees: Theatrical Feature Film Symposium on their nominated films. Part two shares the nominees' thoughts on dealing with anxiety, how they tackle pre-production issues, and the language they use to adjust an actor's performance.

Meet the Nominees Theatrical Feature Film Symposium 2020 - Part 1 of 3 (Ep. 249)

Sam Mendes, Bong Joon Ho, Martin Scorsese, Quentin Tarantino, and Taika Waititi engage in a conversation moderated by Jeremy Kagan for the 29th Annual DGA Meet the Nominees: Theatrical Feature Film Symposium on their nominated films. Part one shares the nominees' thoughts on where they like to be on set when directing and share details about shooting the openings and closings of their film.

Three Christs with Jon Avnet and Rodrigo García (Ep. 248)

Director Jon Avnet discusses his new film, Three Christs, with fellow director Rodrigo García. The film follows a Michigan psychiatrist as he treats three paranoid schizophrenic patients, each of whom believes that he is Jesus Christ. Please note spoilers are included.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/Events/2020/March2020/JonAvnet_discusses_ThreeChrists_QnA_0120.aspx

Pain and Glory with Pedro Almódovar and Kenneth Lonergan (Ep. 247)

Director Pedro Almodóvar discusses his new film, Pain and Glory, with fellow director Kenneth Lonergan. This deeply personal film from Spain tells the story of Salvador Mallo, a depressed director who is thinking of leaving filmmaking because of chronic health problems. A series of encounters, both real and remembered, leads Mallo to reflect on the choices he's made. Please note spoilers are included.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/Events/2019/Dec2019/GCS_PainYGlory_0919.aspx

Atlantics with Mati Diop and Michael Almereyda (Ep. 246)

Director Mati Diop discusses her new film, Atlantics, with fellow director Michael Almereyda. Set in the outskirts of Dakar on Senegal's Atlantic coast, the film tells the story of a young woman who is in love with a construction worker, but is already promised to another man. After the construction worker is lost at sea and the devastated woman prepares to go through with her original wedding, strange things begin to happen that may thwart her plans. Please note spoilers are included.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/Events/2019/Dec2019/GCS_Atlantics_1019.aspx

Richard Jewell with Clint Eastwood and Scott Cooper (Ep. 245)

Director Clint Eastwood discusses his new film, Richard Jewell, with fellow director Scott Cooper. The film tells the true story of Jewell, an American security guard who saved thousands of lives from an exploding bomb at the 1996 Olympics. But his life starts to unravel when he becomes the FBI's prime suspect in the bombing attempt and is vilified by press and public alike. Please note spoilers are included.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/Events/2020/Feb2020/RichardJewell_QnA_1219.aspx

Just Mercy with Destin Daniel Cretton and Anna Boden (Ep. 244)

Director Destin Daniel Cretton discusses his new film, Just Mercy, with fellow director Anna Boden. Based on a true story, the film follows young lawyer Bryan Stevenson's effort to overturn the murder conviction of Walter McMillian, who was sentenced to die for the murder of an 18-year-old girl despite ample evidence proving his innocence. Please note spoilers are included.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/Events/2020/Feb2020/JustMercy_QnA_1219.aspx

1917 with Sam Mendes and Ed Zwick (Ep. 243)

Director Sam Mendes discusses his new film, 1917, with fellow director Ed Zwick. The film follows two young privates fighting with British forces during the First World War. They are given the impossible mission of delivering a message into enemy territory to prevent 1600 men, including one of the soldier's brothers from walking into a deadly trap.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/Events/2020/Feb2020/1917_QnA_1219.aspx

Uncut Gems With Josh and Benny Safdie and Kenneth Lonergan (Ep. 242)

Directors Josh and Benny Safdie discuss their new film, Uncut Gems, with fellow director Kenneth Lonergan. The film stars Adam Sandler as Howard, a charismatic New Yorker who is always on the lookout for the next big score. His latest scheme is a precarious high-wire act, balancing business, family, and encroaching adversaries on all sides in his relentless pursuit of the ultimate win. Please note spoilers are included.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/Events/2020/Jan2020/UncutGems_QnA_1219.aspx

Knives Out with Rian Johnson and Denis Villeneuve (Ep. 241)

Director Rian Johnson discusses his new film, Knives Out, with fellow director Denis Villeneuve. The film is a whodunit, following debonair detective Benoit Blanc's investigation of the death of renowned crime novelist Harlan Thrombey. With suspects aplenty in Thrombey's dysfunctional family and devoted staff, Blanc must wade through a sea of red herrings to uncover the truth. Please note spoilers are included.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/Events/2020/Jan2020/KnivesOut_QnA_1119.aspx

Harriet with Kasi Lemmons and Rick Famuyiwa (Ep. 240)

Director Kasi Lemmons discusses her new film, Harriet, with fellow director Rick Famuyiwa. The film tells the extraordinary true story of Harriet Tubman, an enslaved person who escaped her captors. After finding liberty in the North, Tubman then risked her freedom and her life to return to the South, and relied upon her courage, ingenuity and tenacity to free hundreds of others and change the course of history.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/Events/2020/Jan2020/Harriet_QnA_1119.aspx

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood with Marielle Heller and Tamara Jenkins (Ep. 239)

Director Marielle Heller discusses her new film, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, with fellow director Tamara Jenkins. The film retells the story of the real-life friendship between television icon Fred Rogers and journalist Tom Junod. The story fictionalizes Juno as a skeptical writer named Lloyd Vogel, who is assigned to do a story on Mr. Rogers. Vogel is ultimately swayed as Rogers' kindness triumphs over his cynicism and he learns about empathy and decency from America's most beloved neighbor.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/Events/2020/Jan2020/ABeautifulDayintheNeighborhood_QnA_1119.aspx

Ford v Ferrari with James Mangold and Doug Liman (Ep. 238)

Director James Mangold discusses his new film, Ford v Ferrari, with fellow director Doug Liman. The film follows American car designer Carroll Shelby and driver Ken Miles who battled corporate interference, the laws of physics and their own personal demons to build a revolutionary race car for Ford and challenge Ferrari at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1966.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/Events/2020/Jan2020/FordVFerrari_QnA_1119.aspx

Bombshell with Jay Roach and Leslye Headland (Ep. 237)

Director Jay Roach discusses his new film, Bombshell, with fellow director Leslye Headland. Based on the real-life scandal, the film follows the group of women at Fox News who exposed the toxic atmosphere of harassment at the network and took down CEO Roger Ailes.
See photos and a summary of this event below:
https://www.dga.org/Events/2020/Jan2020/Bombshell_QnA_1119.aspx